Documents

GCW Implementation Plan

[v1.7, 19 April 2016] This document describes the implementation of the World Meteorological Organization’s Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW). The official version approved by the World Meteorological Congress in 2015 (Cg-17) is v1.6, 24 January 2015. The focus of the plan is on the GCW organizational structure and key activities for the next five years. The document provides background information on GCW, applications of cryosphere data, a conceptual framework, operational structure including working groups and task teams, near-term tasks, milestones and deliverables, management, indicators of success, partnerships, and a discussion of resources. This plan will be periodically updated as GCW evolves.

GCW Best Practices

The Preliminary 2018 Edition of WMO-No. 8, Volume II, Measurement of Cryospheric Variables is available. Chapters 1 and 2 have been written and will be part of the 2018 Edition when finalized. Chapters 3-8 will be developed during the GCW pre-operational phase, tentatively scheduled for 2020-2023.

Outreach Materials

Various outreach materials are available on the Outreach/Materials page. These include logos, handouts, a brochure, a poster, a QR barcode, and word clouds.

Outreach Logo

GCW Meeting Reports

The meeting reports listed below are available on the meeting web pages. They are linked here for convenience.

GCW Journal and Conference Papers

  • GCW overview paper in Arctic - This journal paper is an overview of GCW that grew out of the AOS2013 whitepaper.
  • GCW Whitepaper for the 2016 Arctic Observing Summit - This document is a whitepaper on GCW written for the 2016 Arctic Observing Summit, March 2016 (Fairbanks, Alaska). It focuses on CryoNet and the Data Portal. Much of the material is also in the GCW Implementation Plan.
  • Paper on the High Asia cryosphere observing network for GCW - This is a 2012 SCAR paper on the development of a High Asia cryosphere observation network by Xiao et al. Abstract: "In coordination with Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW) initiated by World Meteorology Administration (WMO), a regional observation network is proposed based on existing stations/sites over High Asia and cryospheric elements required by GCW. Thus, High Asian Cryosphere (HAC) network is preliminary designed, composing of seven "supersites", each containing several reference sites. The network covers major mountain ranges in High Asia, such as East Tianshan, Qilian, Tanggula, Nyainqentanglha, Himalayas as well as the central and eastern Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau. Although multiple cryospheric elements were observed at the existing HAC network, many others, which are required by Integrated Global Observation System-Cryosphere Theme (IGOS-Cryosphere), are not yet included. More comprehensive observations are necessary to be included into "supersites" of HAC, so that the basic requirements for validation of satellite data, assimilation and coupled regional models can be met." More information is available on the "Science in Cold and Arid Regions" China SCAR web site.
  • GCW Whitepaper for the 2013 Arctic Observing Summit - This document is a whitepaper on GCW written for the 2013 Arctic Observing Summit, 30 April - 2 May (Vancouver, BC, Canada). It is a summary of the GCW initiative. Much of the material is from the GCW Implementation Plan.

IGOS Cryosphere Theme Report

The Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS) Cryosphere Theme was a combined initiative of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Climate and Cryosphere (CliC) Project and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). The objective of the Theme was to create a framework for improved coordination of cryospheric observations for a more comprehensive, coordinated, and integrated cryosphere observing system. The Global Cryosphere Watch extends the work of the Theme in many ways. The IGOS Cryosphere Theme report was published in 2007. The IGOS Partnership was dissolved in 2008. More information on the theme is available at http://stratus.ssec.wisc.edu/igos/. (Note: The web domain igos-cryosphere.org was discontinued in late 2015.)

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